Chapter Text
HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR YEAR: 2021 - 2022 // 17 years old
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17th 2021
JJ visits Kiara during her shift at The Wreck. He sits at the counter and whistles or makes flirty comments whenever she passes. Well, JJ would call them flirty and Kie would normally call them objectifying.
“If you weren’t so cute, you’d be annoying,” Kie tells him, leaning across the counter and giving him a chaste kiss.
“When do you get off?” JJ asks.
“Not until 8:00,” Kie says.
Mike walks out of the kitchen behind Kie. JJ sits up straighter.
“Hi Mr. C,” JJ greets, as Kie spins around to look at her dad.
“Kie, are your tables all done?” he asks, not acknowledging JJ’s greeting.
“Yes, Dad. I was just checking on JJ’s order,” Kie lies to give herself an excuse for chatting with JJ.
“I can check on it, what did he order?” Mike asks, catching Kie in her lie.
“Oh I meant I was taking his order. He didn’t order yet,” Kie attempts to cover her lie.
JJ bites his lip to keep from laughing at her.
“That’s one vanilla milkshake, right?” Kie asks JJ, picking up her pad and pen from the counter.
“Chocolate,” JJ corrects, just to be difficult.
Mike narrows his eyes at the two teens before walking away without another word.
“He’s a scary man,” JJ states.
“Please, you were never scared of my parents before,” Kie dismisses.
“Yes, keyword being before. Before all the se-” JJ starts.
“One chocolate shake, coming right up!” Kie exclaims interrupting JJ as she notices her dad walking back towards them again.
Thirty minutes later, Kie clocks out and grabs her bag from behind the counter to leave with JJ.
“I’m leaving, bye Dad,” Kie calls into the kitchen. She’s pushing at JJ’s back to hurry them both out the front door of the restaurant.
“Kiara, wait,” Mike calls back, stepping out of the kitchen and looking between JJ and Kie. “Where are you going? I can give you a ride home.”
“I’m going over to John B’s with JJ,” Kie hooks her thumb over her shoulder at JJ.
“You haven’t been home in three nights, I know your mother would like to see your beautiful face more often,” Mike says.
“I’ll be home all day tomorrow, promise,” Kie states.
“Alright then, be safe,” Mike accepts.
JJ and Kie proceed out the front of the restaurant and into the fairly empty parking lot towards JJ’s bike. December is low season and The Wreck has limited hours.
“You just promised him our Saturday,” JJ complains.
“Well you can come over to my place,” Kie suggests.
“Eh, I don’t know… with your parents home?” JJ questions.
“Come on, we can go in the hot tub,” Kie hopes to entice him with her in a bikini.
“Again, I ask, with your parents home?” JJ scrunches his nose.
“Yeah, I can have friends over,” Kie reasons.
They had been official for three weeks now and Kie was spending every available minute with JJ, mostly at the Chateau. She knows she’s pushing the limit with her parents with how little she’s been home.
JJ still looks uncertain so she tries a new tactic, she flutters her eyelashes and leans in brushing her lips gently against his. “Please,” she pouts her lips a bit.
“Ok fine,” he relents, then leans in to capture her lips. They are kissing pretty intensely when Kie hears the door to The Wreck open. She puts a hand to JJ’s chest and pushes away, flicking her eyes to the restaurant’s entrance to see her dad walking out.
“Shit,” Kie curses under her breath. She’s not sure if he saw them or not, but she doesn’t want to stick around for the conversation if he did. “Let’s get out of here.” She grabs the helmet off the back of his bike as JJ gets on and starts the engine.
---
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18th 2021
Kie is helping her mom make pancakes. She agreed to family breakfast and to spend her day at home to put in some face time with her parents. She’s hoping that’ll put them in a good mood and then she can get JJ to come over later to hang out in the hot tub.
“So Kie,” Mike starts as he walks into the kitchen. “When are you gonna introduce us to your boyfriend?”
Kie freezes mid pancake flip. “Um… my boyfriend?”
“Yes, Kiara, I wasn’t born yesterday,” Mike states.
Kie debates the best course of action. She could lie, but she supposes they would find out sooner or later that her and JJ are dating. Plus it seems her dad already knows.
“It’s a small island,” Anna adds. “You think you can run around with a boy and it wouldn’t get back to us?”
“Well… considering I’ve been ‘running around’ with JJ for years, I didn’t think people would take note,” Kie admits, putting ‘running around’ in air quotes with her hands.
Anna and Mike make eye contact. They seem surprised she folded so quickly.
“So you and JJ are dating?” Mike asks.
“It seems like you kind of already knew that,” Kie says.
“I’m just confirming you kids are using that terminology these days. Dating, boyfriend and girlfriend. Not friends with benefits or hook up buddies-” Mike explains.
Kie interrupts him. “Please stop, Dad. Yes, JJ is my boyfriend,” she confirms, not wanting to hear her dad imply anything else about her and JJ sleeping together.
“We should properly meet him then, don’t you think?” Anna asks.
Kie looks confused. “Um, you’ve met JJ.”
“I mean, he should come over for dinner so we can get to know him better,” Anna explains.
Kie absentmindedly stirs the pancake batter. JJ will hate that, she thinks, but she’s not sure how to get out of it. It might be better to just rip the bandaid off and do dinner so they’ll lay off.
“Ok, I’ll have him check his schedule,” Kie agrees.
“You’ll have him check his schedule?” Mike raises his eyebrows doubtfully. “I can tell you his schedule, Kie. It’s following you around. He hangs around The Wreck like a puppy whenever you’re working.”
Kie laughs. She guesses her and JJ are not very discreet. Their friends all knew about their feelings before either JJ or Kie could admit them to each other.
“Touché, Dad,” she quips.
Mike smiles at her.
“That settles it then. We’ll do dinner here tomorrow night,” Anna declares.
Kie finishes making the pancakes and then texts JJ.
Kie [11:05am]: Abort hot tub plan.
Kie [11:05am]: Bad news… the parentals know we’re dating.
Kie [11:06am]: Even worse news… your presence is required for dinner tomorrow so they can “get to know my boyfriend better”
JJ [11:07am]: WTF
JJ [11:07am]: My day just went from macking on my hot girlfriend in a hot tub to dreading the smack down her parents are gonna lay on me tomorrow.
Kie [11:07am]: Don’t worry, I’m buttering them up with quality time today. They’ll be nice.
Kiara puts her phone down on the kitchen counter and sits down for breakfast with her parents.
---
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19th 2021
JJ’s leg is bouncing up and down as he takes a small sip from his beer bottle. Pope reaches over and puts a hand on JJ’s knee to stop the small rapid movements.
“Dude, are you… are you nervous?” Pope asks.
“Um, yeah,” JJ admits, a little sheepishly.
“Bro it’s Kie,” John B states.
“It’s Kie’s parents,” JJ corrects. “And in case you don’t remember there have been several occasions when they tried to stop Kiara from even hanging out with us.”
“Yeah but this is different,” John B insists.
“Yeah before they were only suspicious that Kie was hooking up with one of us. Now Mike knows I’ve been railing his precious daughter.” JJ picks at the label on his beer bottle.
“Ok first of all, don’t use that terminology. Call it making love-” John B starts advising.
“What the fuck dude! I’m not calling it anything to her parents. I don’t intend to raise that subject.” JJ practically yells.
“Ok that’s probably for the best,” John B agrees as if it was ever a possibility that JJ would talk to Kie’s parents about their sex life.
“Listen, ultimately Kiara’s parents love her and she loves you so… I think they’ll give you a chance,” Pope shares actual helpful words of wisdom, unlike John B.
Kie’s Jeep pulls up to the Chateau and JJ takes the last sip of his beer, putting the bottle down at the side of the couch on the porch where the boys are hanging out. Not necessarily hiding it from Kie but not wanting to advertise that he was drinking before dinner with her parents.
“‘Sup boys,” Kie greets coming up the steps of the porch.
“Hi babe,” JJ smiles at her and leans in for a quick kiss from his seat on the couch. John B sticks his finger in his mouth and mimes gagging behind Kie’s back. JJ doesn’t care though. He puts up with John B and Sarah’s sickenly sweet displays of affection. Plus he just can’t help himself around Kie. He constantly feels the urge to touch and kiss her.
“You’ve been drinking,” Kie says, as she pulls away from his lips. It’s a statement, not a question.
“Just one beer,” JJ lies. It was actually two beers, but what Kie doesn’t know, won’t hurt her, JJ tells himself.
John B scoffs.
Kie narrows her eyes at JJ, she usually knows when JJ is lying. He’s a good liar, but she knows him better than anyone.
“He’s nervous,” Pope speaks up for JJ.
“Aw, that’s cute,” Kie coos, ruffling his hair.
JJ ducks out of Kie’s reach and shakes his head at Pope. “Not cool man.”
Pope just laughs at him. “Please, Kie is so rebellious she’ll probably like you even more if her parents hate you,” he says playfully.
“Hey-” Kie starts to defend herself and then she just shrugs, allowing the joke because she supposes Pope has a point.
“Alright, let’s get this over with,” JJ wipes his palms on his pants and stands up.
Five minutes later, they pull up to the Carrera’s house. Kie hops out of her Jeep and starts to walk to the front door, but JJ pulls her back by her belt loop and pushes her up against the passenger side of the car for a passionate kiss.
“I just needed to get that out of my system before we go in there,” JJ says, after pulling back.
“Mm, I’m not complaining,” Kie mumbles then pulls JJ in by his shirt collar for another kiss. Kie’s teeth graze his bottom lip and he moans into her mouth.
JJ pulls away again. “Ok, gotta stop before I get too turned on.”
“Kiara!” Mike’s voice booms from the front porch.
“Fuck,” JJ mutters. “We’re already in trouble.”
Kie giggles and grabs his arm to drag him towards the house.
“Mom, Dad, this is JJ,” Kie announces as they walk into the kitchen holding hands.
Mike, Anna, and JJ all stare at Kie like she has three heads.
“What?” Kie asks, feigning innocence. “You said you wanted to properly meet my boyfriend, even after I told you it was JJ, whom you’ve very obviously met before.”
“Now is not the time for your smart mouth, Kiara,” Mike reprimands Kie.
“JJ, sweetheart, come in, take a seat,” Anna says sweetly to JJ, gesturing to the stools at the counter. “Please don’t let Kie’s antics bother you,” she adds. “I certainly don’t.”
Kie’s mouth pulls to the side as she bites the corner of her lip to stop herself from laughing at her mom. She really cannot believe her mom just called JJ sweetheart. JJ’s eyes widen at Kie, like he can’t believe it either.
“Can we get you anything to drink? Water, sweet tea, soda?” Anna asks JJ.
“Water’s good,” JJ responds.
Anna looks pointedly at Kie, while Mike sets the table.
“Oh, I’m supposed to be getting the water. Got it,” Kie gives her mom a thumbs up.
“Yes, Kiara. It’s called manners. You should try them out sometime,” Anna admonishes.
“Yes, Mom,” Kie replies, while filling up a glass of water from the sink tap.
“Kiara, from the filter in the fridge please,” Anna motions to the refrigerator.
“Oh my, I can’t believe I almost served JJ regular tap water,” Kie says sarcastically. “How barbaric!”
JJ catches Kie’s eye and shakes his head at her.
“You’re not helping,” JJ whispers as Kie hands him the water glass.
“JJ, I hope you like seafood,” Anna says, ignoring Kie’s sarcasm and stirring a large pot.
“Yes, ma’m, I love it,” JJ replies.
“I already told her you liked it,” Kie whispers under her breath. JJ whacks her in the side underneath the counter, so Anna can’t see, to get her to shut up.
“Well good, because we’re having seafood stew. My mother’s recipe. I love to cook it around the holidays, it’s such a warm and toasty dish,” Anna explains.
“Sounds delicious. Can I help with anything?” JJ offers.
“No dear, you’re our guest. Don’t you worry about a thing,” Anna insists.
JJ smiles at Kie who smiles back at him. He finds he’s actually happy to be here with Kie and her parents. He knows that Kie’s parents are important to her, even when she acts like she doesn’t care about their opinions. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t be so upset when they fight.
When they sit down to eat, Kie scoots her chair a little closer to JJ so she can reach out and touch his leg under the table.
“So, how long have you two been dating?” Mike asks, taking his seat at the head of the table.
Kie makes a choking noise next to JJ. He turns to see her coughing with her first spoonful of stew barely in her mouth.
“Are you ok?” JJ asks, reaching out to rub Kie’s back.
“Yes, sorry, I’m fine,” Kie reaches for her water glass to take a small sip. “Just wasn’t expecting that question.”
JJ looks quizzically at Kie, then turns back to Mike. “We’ve been together for about 3 weeks now. But it should have been a lot longer. I was too scared to ask Kie to be my girlfriend but I liked her for a really long time,” JJ shares, honestly, with Kie’s parents.
JJ looks back at Kie who is beaming at him and he feels a slight blush rise to his cheeks. She makes him want to say all this ridiculously cheesy shit that he would normally cringe at.
“That’s sweet,” Anna proclaims.
JJ eats a large spoonful of the stew. “This is delicious, Mrs. C.”
“Thank you, dear,” Anna says.
“So how is school going for both of you with the first half of junior year now over? Do you guys have many classes together?” Mike asks.
“We have a few classes together,” Kie jumps in to answer the question about school, knowing it’s not JJ’s favorite topic. “Homeroom, history, and English.”
“Oh that’s nice, then you can study together,” Anna chimes in.
“Yep, plenty of study dates in our future,” Kie agrees with a tone bordering on sarcasm, for which her mom shoots her a disapproving look.
The dinner continues with Kie doing most of the talking. She tries to steer the conversation to safe topics like surfing, which is common ground for JJ and her dad.
“Kie tells me you’re quite the surfer,” Mike says.
“Yeah, I love it. I like to get out as much as I can. Kie gives me a run for my money some days, though,” JJ notes.
“That’s my Kie,” Mike states proudly. “I had her in the water as soon as she could stand.”
“She could practically surf before she could walk,” Anna nods. “How old were you when you first went surfing, JJ?”
JJ pauses. “I don’t really know,” he admits. “I guess my dad first took me out when I was maybe 5 or 6. I can’t remember.”
“How is Luke doing these days?” Anna asks, at the mention of his dad.
JJ feels Kie tense next to him.
“Mom,” Kie says sternly and quickly shakes her head no.
“What Kie? I can’t ask about his father?” Anna questions.
“No you can’t,” Kie says at the same time that JJ says “it’s fine.”
JJ knows that Kiara’s parents don’t know about Luke and JJ’s problematic relationship. But Luke has a reputation around the island and they certainly at least know that Luke has been in and out of jail.
“Sorry Kiara, I thought the only topic you told me not to bring up was college.”
“Mom!” Kie puts her head in hands, exasperated.
“What? We don’t have to talk about it,” Anna says.
JJ is surprised to hear that Kie requested not to talk about college. Maybe because Kie didn’t want to start fighting with her parents at dinner and she knows her future plans and education is a hot button issue for them.
“Well I can say that I don’t really know how Luke is these days,” JJ pipes up to stop the back and forth between Kie and her mom. “I haven’t seen or heard from him in over a month,” JJ elaborates.
Kie places her hand on JJ’s leg underneath the table and gives it a gentle squeeze. JJ puts his hand on top of hers.
“Oh,” Anna says, a deeper understanding of JJ’s home life hitting her. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah well, I’m used to it,” JJ shrugs.
Anna and Mike exchange a worried look but don’t comment any further.
Kie asks her dad about his next fishing trip he has planned. Fishing is another topic with common ground between JJ and her dad. JJ wonders if Kie has a list of what she considers safe topics for the evening.
The rest of the dinner goes by without incident. Anna serves warm apple pie for dessert out on the back porch. It’s cold so Kie wraps a big wool blanket around herself and JJ on the bench they’re sitting on.
“This pie is really good,” JJ compliments.
“Stop sucking up,” Kie whispers playfully.
Anna smiles. “Kiara made it from scratch this afternoon,” she states proudly.
“You made this?” JJ turns to Kie and points to the pie with his fork. “You’ve been holding out on me Carerra. Those British Bake Off challenges we make never taste this good!”
Kie laughs. “Yeah because the Chateau never has all the fresh ingredients I need.”
“Mike and Kie are the bakers in this house. They make such delicious treats it’s a challenge to keep a slim figure,” Anna says.
Anna and Mike continue to talk about baking and start planning what to bake for Christmas next week. JJ puts his arm up on the back of the bench behind Kie and she scoots closer to JJ under the blanket. JJ thinks about how nice this is, just sitting here enjoying the evening with his girlfriend and her family.
Mike collects the plates when everyone is done with their pie. He and Anna go inside, leaving JJ and Kie on the porch by themselves.
“So, on a scale of 1 to horrendous - how bad was that?” Kie asks JJ.
“Honestly, not bad at all,” JJ answers.
“Really?” Kie looks doubtful.
“Yeah, I like hearing about little Kie learning to surf and your mom bragging about your baking,” JJ says.
“Sorry if it was painful to sit through-” Kie starts.
“Nothing to be sorry for Kie, it was fine. I’m glad we did this,” JJ says.
The corner of Kie’s lips turn up into a small smile. “Well thanks for coming. I know it made my parents happy.”
“When do I get my reward?” JJ asks, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Reward?” Kie raises her eyebrows.
“Yeah, I was thinking… sex in the hot tub or road head…” JJ suggests with a smirk. “Something new for us.”
Kie leans forward. “That can be arranged,” she says, before kissing him.
“Fuck, I love you,” JJ breathes, affectionately.
Kie snakes her hands behind JJ’s head and pulls him in again kissing him fervently.
“Um. Kie. We. Can’t,” JJ says each word between kisses while making out.
“Yes we can,” Kie says quickly before reattaching her lips to his.
JJ lets her kiss him for a few seconds before he’s backing off. “Your parents could-”
“So let’s go out of their view,” Kie suggests.
She stands up, grabs the blanket and takes JJ by the hand, leading him off the back porch and out onto the lawn. Kie lays the blanket down and lays down on top.
“Come here, I need some warming up,” Kie beckons JJ down next to her.
They make out on the blanket for a while but JJ is very aware of Kie’s parents 25 feet away inside the house so he doesn’t take it any further. When Kie’s hand starts to unbutton JJ’s pants, he reaches down to stop her.
“You’re frisky tonight,” he comments.
“Yeah and usually you are too,” Kie replies, sounding a little resigned.
“I just feel like your parents are going to come back outside any minute,” JJ explains.
“Should we take my car and go somewhere?” Kie proposes.
“It’s a nice night and the stars are out,” JJ gestures to the sky. “Let’s just stay here and chill.”
He lays flat on his back to look up at the stars.
“JJ Maybank is turning down sex?” Kie asks, distrustfully.
“I’m not saying no. I’m just saying later,” JJ says.
JJ wants Kie constantly, not just physically; he wants all parts of Kie. He already knows their sexual relationship is incredible and she’s already his best friend, but after dinner with her parents tonight, he realizes more than ever he wants everything with Kie. All her nights including family dinners and pie baking and all her days of surfing and volunteering to help protect the environment or whatever else she wants to do, he wants to do it with her.
“Do you see that turtle shaped constellation?” JJ asks, pointing up at the sky.
Kie adjusts herself to lay down on her back next to JJ. “There’s no turtle constellation,” she says dubiously.
“Maybe not officially, but look, if you follow my finger you’ll see it,” JJ insists.
Kie shifts her head closer to JJ’s to follow his line of sight.
“Ok so this is it’s head and this is the shell,” JJ explains as his finger traces a pattern in the air.
“I guess I kind of see it,” Kie says.
“One night last summer when I was high and laying in the hammock I looked up and saw that turtle and thought of you, so I named him KC the Turtle,” JJ recounts.
“You made up a constellation and named it after me?” Kie questions.
“Yes,” JJ replies. “I mean, just in my head.”
Kie turns her head and gives JJ a quick kiss on the cheek.
“You’re my favorite person, JJ Maybank,” Kie declares.
“And you’re mine,” JJ says, finding her hand in his and interlacing their fingers.
They lay in peaceful silence gazing at the stars for a while.
“Hey, why did you ask your parents not to talk about college at dinner?” JJ asks, breaking the silence.
Kie pauses. “I just didn’t want that pressure tonight.”
“The pressure of them making you go?” he asks.
“Not exactly…” Kie hesitates to continue. “I guess I didn’t want the pressure on us.”
JJ turns his head from facing the sky to look at the side of Kie’s face as she continues to stare at the stars.
“What do you mean?” he asks, confused.
“I know I’ve always talked about taking a gap year but I’ve started doing all this research on colleges and it got me thinking… there’s some cool environmental science programs at NYU and USC and UF…” Kie starts to trail off.
“Ok, so you’re planning on applying to schools after all. I’m sure that’s good news for your parents,” JJ says, confused about what the issue was that prevented the topic from being dinner time appropriate.
“Yeah but those schools are in New York and California and Florida,” Kie continues.
JJ always figured Kie would leave OBX after high school, either for college or to travel or probably both.
“Ok,” JJ says simply.
“Ok?” Kie repeats as a question.
“Yeah, ok.”
“You’re not, like, worried about what will happen to us?” Kie asks, a little shyly. “I mean, I know this is a new relationship and all… but I’m planning or, you know, hoping we’ll still be together then…”
“Kie, of course we’ll still be together then. And we’ll still be together when you go wherever you decide to go,” JJ responds.
He sounds confident, but JJ isn’t really one for planning ahead so thinking about a year and half from now doesn’t feel all that real to him yet and he knows he loves Kie so it seems simple to him that they will still be together. He’s never given too much thought to his future, other than it will probably be in the OBX and he hopes to avoid the path his father took. Being with Kie has given him his first tangible thing to plan for in his future. He plans to be with her.
“Really?” Kie asks.
“Kiara Carrera, you’re not getting rid of me that easily,” JJ asserts.
Kie grins and shifts to put her head on JJ’s chest, his arms come up to hold her.
“What other constellations can you see?” she asks.
They lay like that, stargazing for a long time as JJ narrates different shapes and animals in the sky.
---
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27th 2022
It’s late afternoon and JJ and Kie are lounging in the hammock at the Chateau, having just finished their third shared joint. They have a nice calm high going, with no plans but to hang out with each other for the afternoon.
JJ lies on his back in the hammock with Kie lying on her stomach, half on him and half on the hammock. Her arms are crossed resting on his chest and propping up her chin to look at him.
“Come closer,” JJ says, with a pout.
“I already am closer,” Kie says with a giggle.
“No even closer.” JJ wraps his arms around her middle and pulls her up on top of him another couple inches. “This is better, I have my Kie blanket.”
“Ok but now I need the actual blanket,” Kie says, as a cold gust blows over them.
It’s a cold February day and they are bundled in comfy layers of sweats and hoodies but it’s not enough to fully combat the cold. They had brought out a big wool blanket that JJ had mostly been lounging on top of.
He struggles to pull it out from underneath them without disrupting their position.
“Just get up,” Kie says, starting to push herself up.
“No.” JJ tightens his grip around her. “I’ll get it. Just give me a second.”
He slowly rocks his body a little at a time to free the blanket beneath him inch by inch. The hammock swings with his movements. He eventually has the whole thing and drapes it on top of both of them. Kie reaches around to tuck in the edges around them as best she can without moving her body.
“How’s that?” JJ asks, with a self satisfied smile.
“Perfect,” Kie says.
They lie like that, wrapped up in each other and the blanket for a while. Kie thinks she may have dozed off for a little. She feels JJ tracing patterns on her back.
“Guess what I’m drawing,” he tells her when he sees her eyes open.
“A turtle,” she guesses immediately.
“No fair! You didn’t even give me a chance,” he complains.
“Am I right?” she asks with a grin.
“Yes,” he sighs.
“Ok, go again. I’ll wait til you tell me you’re finished this time,” Kie says like she’s playing a game with a toddler.
He draws something pretty intricate on Kie’s back and then tells her to guess. Kie guesses a boat, lion, dolphin, and sandcastle before she gives up.
“The Twinkie!” JJ exclaims.
“How was that the Twinkie?!” Kie asks, perplexed.
“Well how do a lion and sandcastle look anything alike? Were you even paying attention?” JJ accuses.
“I tried but your lines were all over the place,” Kie complains.
“Oh ok, my bad,” JJ says sarcastically.
Kie rolls her eyes at him.
“Want me to do another one?” JJ asks.
“I have a better idea,” Kie waggles her eyebrows at him. She shifts herself forward on top of JJ to brush her lips over his. Then she pauses and holds her lips a couple centimeters away from his.
“You’re a little tease,” JJ mutters.
“You love it,” Kie whispers.
JJ closes the tiny gap. He works his tongue across her lips, into her mouth and against her tongue as he reaches his hands under the hem of her hoodie and beneath her t-shirt to feel the warmth of her skin against his palms.
Kie moves one knee to either side of JJ to straddle him. Her hands slide underneath his head and her fingers run along the nape of his neck.
A groan escapes JJ, his hips lift into her and Kie is emboldened as she feels JJ hard against her through their sweats. She moves her mouth from his lips to neck, then shifts her knees back so she’s inching down his body. Her hands make their way to the top of his sweatpants and she’s dipping her fingers underneath the fabric to feel his skin.
JJ is watching Kie in reverence. She’s not sure if his hooded eyes are from the weed or from her.
Kie locks her eyes on his as she pulls his sweatpants and underwear down just enough to spring his erection free. She wraps her hand around him and gives a couple firm tugs. Then she lowers her mouth to his tip, keeping her eyes trained on his.
She slowly licks around the head and JJ’s eyes close tightly.
“Kie…” JJ moans her name.
She starts spreading his precum and her saliva down the shaft with long slow licks. Then she wraps her lips around him and takes as much of him as she can into her mouth and throat.
“Fuck baby,” JJ says, reaching a hand down to twist in her hair.
Kie moves her mouth slowly up and down. She adjusts the blanket with her free hand so it’s tented over her to block his exposed privates from the wind as much as possible.
JJ thrusts up slightly, not able to control his anticipation. Kie swirls her tongue around as she bobs up and down.
“Oh God, baby, yes,” JJ runs his mouth.
Kie deepthroats him and licks the base of his cock while he’s deep inside her mouth. JJ’s fingers grip her shoulders tightly, squeezing to stop himself from screaming out.
Suddenly the door to the porch slams open.
“JJ!” John B calls.
“Shit,” JJ whisper curses.
Kie quickly flattens herself to JJ’s chest while yanking the blanket up with her to cover themselves and JJ’s bare penis.
She keeps one hand wrapped around his dick underneath the blanket.
JJ coughs and clears his throat before calling back, “yeah man?” as he hears John B approaching from behind his field of vision.
“Hi Kie,” John B says upon seeing Kie.
Kie squeaks out a small hi.
“Nice day,” John B comments as he looks around at the blue sky and the sun shining, despite the cool wind whipping. He has a sandwich in his hand that he takes a big bite from.
A gust blows the edge of the blanket up a bit and JJ’s hand shoots out to hold it down.
“Yep,” JJ nods curtly. “Are you… here for a weather report or did you need something?”
“Just seeing what you were up to,” John B shrugs.
Kie is looking at John B but she starts slowly moving her hand up and down JJ’s cock.
“Oh um, yeah, we’re not… up to much,” JJ tries to play it cool.
JJ moves a hand to Kie’s hair and gives it a swift tug as soon as John B’s eyes drift away from them to out over the water.
Kie pauses her hand’s motion and looks to JJ with her most innocent smile plastered across her face.
“Can I interest you in some Mario Kart?” John B asks, taking another bite of his sandwich.
Kie starts to slowly pump her hand on JJ’s dick again. Her eyes are focused on him to watch his expression.
JJ bites his lip. “Uh, sure, yeah,” JJ manages to say.
“Cool,” John B says. “Kie, you in too?”
“Sure am,” Kie smiles at John B while she picks up the pace of her hand.
JJ drops his head back pressing it against the hammock and Kie can see his jaw tighten.
John B stands a couple meters away finishing his sandwich. “Ok but no Rainbow Road,” he says, talking about Mario Kart. “You know I hate that circuit.”
“Sounds good,” Kie agrees as she keeps her hand moving under the blanket. “We’ll be in in a minute,” she says, hoping he takes that as a cue to walk away.
Kie sneaks a glance at JJ and sees his eyes are closed and he appears to be trying to control his breathing. She looks back at John B, who pops the final bite of his sandwich in his mouth and chews.
“Ok, see ya in there,” John B says, turning to leave.
Kie continues to give JJ a hand job as she watches John B’s retreating back until he’s inside. She ducks under the blanket and has her lips wrapped around JJ’s throbbing cock before the door even finishes shutting behind John B.
JJ lets out a breathy moan. Kie moves her mouth up and down and works him over with her tongue. JJ’s hands grip Kie’s shoulder and his fingers dig into her, signaling that he’s close.
With a final pump, JJ unloads into Kie’s mouth. She gently sucks as he rides through his orgasm. Then she licks the tip clean.
“Holy hell, Kie,” JJ breathes out with a lazy grin.
Kie smiles, pleased with herself. She pulls up his underwear and sweatpants, moves back on top of him and settles her head on his chest.
“That was the most tortured and turned on I think I’ve ever been,” JJ states, readjusting the blanket around them both.
Kie giggles. “How do you think I feel? Now I have to go play Mario Kart when all I want is you inside me. At least you got your orgasm.”
JJ laughs. “You are unbelievable, Carerra.”
Kie looks up at him through her eye lashes with a sly smile.
“Seriously, you’re crazy, in the best possible way,” JJ says, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
“Love you too,” Kie quips.
They go inside and play Mario Kart with John B for an hour before JJ fakes a headache so he and Kie can go to his bedroom where he can satisfy Kie’s needs, too.
---
SATURDAY, MARCH 26th 2022
Kie enters the Chateau as quietly as possible. She tiptoes to JJ’s room and slowly opens his door. She pauses to watch him sleep for a minute. He looks so peaceful, lying on his side, cuddling a pillow. Slowly she gently rubs his arm until his eyes flutter open. Then she leans down and presses her lips to his. As she is pulling away, JJ’s hands come up behind her head and pull her back down to him. Then he’s pulling her whole body on top of his.
She breaks the kiss but stays lying on top of him. “Morning J.”
“Morning,” he says quickly and then he’s kissing her again, with his tongue curling into her mouth.
Kie pulls away again. “I didn’t wake you up for this-“
JJ interrupts her with another kiss, this time biting gently on her lower lip. He knows it’s a turn on for her.
Kie turns her head to stop him. “J, I’m here so we can catch the first waves at the Point.”
JJ is not deterred by Kie’s words. He redirects his lips from her mouth to her neck.
“Killer swell came in last night,” Kie continues.
JJ is now sucking on her neck, at the sweet spot just below her ear.
“We need to hurry if we want to get out there before the rush,” Kie says.
JJ lifts his hips to push his morning wood against Kie’s core while he drags his teeth lightly down her neck to a new spot he latches onto.
“I already put your board in my car,” Kie keeps explaining.
“Babe, I’m doing some of my best work here and you’re just talking right through it,” JJ grumbles.
Kie pushes off JJ and the bed. “Later,” she insists. “Get your swimsuit and let’s go, now.”
“Fuck, you’re hot when you’re bossy. Now tell me to get on my knees and make you come with my mouth,” JJ says without moving from the bed.
“You wish,” Kie says, feigning annoyance but she has a smile on her face as she turns to exit JJ’s room.
“I do wish. I wish that very much,” JJ calls after her.
She hears him get out of bed and rustle around his room. He comes out a minute later, board shorts and t-shirt on.
“Can I at least brush my teeth?” JJ asks.
“Permission granted,” Kie says facetiously.
Kie waits for him in her Jeep.
JJ opens the passenger side door and hops in. “Alright so can we please continue this dom/sub thing later? Because it’s fucking hot.”
Kie starts her car. “JJ Maybank, do you have a submissive kink?”
“You know you bring it out in me, baby,” JJ says.
Kie smiles. “Play some music,” she orders.
JJ laughs as he connects his phone to the Jeep’s Bluetooth. He searches for a song for a few seconds. Then ‘I’m a Slave 4 U’ by Britney Spears blasts through the speakers. Kie rolls down her windows and the cool morning air whips her hair around. JJ and Kie sing along. Next JJ selects ‘S & M’ by Rihanna.
They get to the Point and surf some of the best waves they’ve ever surfed. At first they battle for who gets the good waves but then there’s so many that they are happy to alternate to give themselves a break.
After a good couple hours, they are laying on their backs on towels Kie packed, soaking up the sun, and drying off.
“Epic waves. You looked awesome out there, Carrera.” JJ lifts his fist towards her without lifting his head from his towel.
She reaches for it blindly, also not picking her head up from her towel, bumping her fist to his after a few attempts.
“Fuck, I’m beat,” Kie remarks.
“Hopefully not too beat to beat me later,” JJ says playfully.
“I always have extra gas in the tank for that,” Kie assures him.
JJ rolls onto his side and looks admiringly at Kie.
“What?” Kie asks, after feeling his gaze on her a while.
“You’re just so fucking sexy. And I’m so fucking lucky that you’re mine,” JJ expresses.
Kie is flattered enough not to correct that she isn’t technically his property. And besides, she figures if she were to belong to anyone it would definitely be JJ.
“Is this part of your sub role?” she asks. “Excessive flattery?”
JJ lays back onto his back. “No, Kie, it’s true all the time,” JJ states, matter-of-factly. “Even when I’m on top,” he adds, as the corner of his mouth turns up in a half smirk.
---
SUNDAY, MAY 29th 2022
John B and Sarah are sitting by the fire in the backyard of the Chateau. JJ and Kie lay in the hammock, heads on opposite sides. Kie shifts to lean closer to where Sarah is sitting and her feet press into JJ’s side. He wraps his hands around her ankles and pulls her feet onto his stomach. He starts to give her a foot rub while she chats with Sarah.
“What about that navy one?” Kie asks.
“I don’t know… that’s really more your color.” Sarah says.
“The gold one with the ruffles?” Kie tries.
“Nah, that feels a bit much,” Sarah says.
“The lilac one with the pretty back?” Kie tries again.
“You wore a color too similar last year,” Sarah shakes her head.
“Ok, Sarah,” Kie surrenders. “If you want an excuse to buy a new dress why don’t you just say that so I don’t have to remember every dress in your closet?”
“Are you asking me to go shopping with you? Because I would love to!” Sarah says with a smile.
Kie laughs at her and rolls her eyes. “Yeah that’s exactly what I’m asking,” she says sarcastically.
“Great, we should go soon! Because we have to get us both dresses and then I need time to make sure I find a tie for John B that matches the color of my dress exactly. I hate when the color is off even a little,” Sarah rambles on.
“You guys should go to the mainland tomorrow,” John B chimes in.
“What do you need a dress for, Kie?” JJ asks, continuing to massage Kie’s feet.
“Midsummers!” Sarah exclaims. “Do you want me to be in charge of your tie too, JJ? I can ensure it matches precisely!”
JJ’s hands go still on Kie’s feet and he looks to her. “Oh, um…”
Kie’s eyes flick to JJ’s and then she looks down at his hands on her feet. “Actually, JJ and I hadn’t really talked about Midsummers yet,” Kie tells Sarah.
Sarah stares at Kie. “Ok but he is your date, right?”
“Well,” Kie starts. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?!” John B and Sarah chorus with matching horrified expressions.
JJ is just looking at Kie.
“I mean, of course I want him to be my date,” she says to John B and Sarah. Then she shakes her head and turns to look at JJ, realizing he’s the one she needs to be talking to. “Of course I want you to be my date.”
“Yikes!” John B whispers too loudly to Sarah.
JJ stays silent.
“I have to go because my parents are making me. And it would be way more fun if you were there with me. But I know these events aren’t really your scene. And I don’t want to make you endure a bunch of Kooks all night. So if you just want to pick me up after, that’s cool too,” Kie speaks quickly, attempting to explain.
“Ok…” JJ nods slowly. “But you want me to go?”
“Yes, absolutely yes,” Kie says.
“I’m not gonna let some annoying Kooks stop me from a night with my girl in a sexy dress,” JJ states.
Kie smiles. “You’re sure?”
“Of course,” JJ says, giving Kie’s feet a squeeze.
“Ok,” Kie says before turning to Sarah. “You can be in charge of JJ’s tie.”
JJ starts rubbing Kie’s feet again. He appreciates that Kie doesn’t want to make him do anything he doesn’t want to. He loves her for loving him exactly as he is. But he doesn’t want her to not express what she wants just to appease him.
JJ waits until John B and Sarah are in a conversation so he doesn't have an audience again.
“Kie, you know you can tell me what you want. Even if you don’t think it’s what I want,” JJ tells Kie. He sits up and spins around in the hammock so they are lying face to face.
“I know,” Kie nods bashfully.
“Ok good, because just so you know, I already have what I want,” JJ says, then leans in to give her a quick kiss. “You.”
Kie leans back in for another kiss.
“Get a room!” John B calls.
JJ keeps kissing Kie and lifts one hand up to flip off John B.
---
SATURDAY, JUNE 18th 2022
Kie and Sarah get ready at the Carreras while the boys get ready at the Chateau. For the girls that means painting their nails, styling their hair, doing their makeup, choosing accessories, and other general primping for a few hours while they blast a playlist Sarah made especially for the occasion with a mix of pop and country. For the boys that means they sit on the couch, drink beer, and play Mario Kart for a few hours, before quickly changing into their suits ten minutes before they’re due to be at the Carreras.
Anna flits in and out of the bathroom and Kie’s room while the girls get ready.
“Kiara, you should tuck those strands of hair back,” Anna says, reaching for Kie’s head.
Kie ducks out of the way. “No, I like them like that.”
“It would be nice to see more of your pretty face,” Anna coos.
“It’s the way I like it,” Kie insists and Anna drops it.
“Girls!” Mike bellows up the stairs. “Your dates have arrived.”
Kie turns to the mirror to do one last check of herself and apply her light pink lip gloss. Her dress is an ocean blue v-neck gown that hugs her body perfectly. When Kie tried it on, Sarah had insisted it was the one. Kie loved it because it reminded her of JJ’s eyes, and with him wearing a matching tie, she was sure his eyes would look even more gorgeous than usual for her to stare into the whole night.
Sarah and Kie descend the Carreras’ stairs to where the boys are waiting.
“Holy shit,” JJ says.
Mike tries not to roll his eyes at JJ’s word choice.
“You girls look absolutely radiant!” Anna exclaims, clapping her hands in front of her own floral dress.
“Beautiful ladies!” Mike compliments.
“Sarah, you look gorgeous,” John B says, taking Sarah’s hand and pulling her into him.
JJ pulls Kie to him too. “You’re so fucking hot. I can’t wait to rip off that dress,” he whispers into her ear.
Kie giggles. “You clean up nice too, Maybank.” Kie appraises JJ’s clean cut black suit with his tie that Sarah had picked to ensure it was the exact shade of blue to match Kie’s dress. His eyes looked even brighter with the pop of blue. Kie could stare into them all night, she thinks.
Anna proceeds to make them take what feels like hundreds of pictures in the backyard. First just the girls, then just the boys, then the couples, then group shots, then a Carerra family shot.
JJ snaps photos of Kie with her parents.
“JJ, honey, why don’t you jump in with us? Sarah, can you take one of the four of us?” Anna asks.
“Oh, um, sure,” JJ says, handing the camera to Sarah.
Kie feels JJ’s uneasiness as he takes his spot next to her and places his hand stiffly around her waist.
“Ok that’s enough photos, Mom,” Kie announces after Sarah clicks two more.
“Oh alright,” Anna allows.
Mike and Anna paid for a car to take them all to the Island Club. Kie hooks her arm onto JJ’s to walk in together when they arrive. She knows her parents will want her with them for a little bit of mingling so she follows them up the steps, through the ritzy club, to the back patio where most of the evening will take place.
JJ's eyes are bouncing all around, as if he’s plotting all the escape routes already.
Upon entering there are tables and trays of champagne flutes as a welcome drink. JJ immediately grabs two, downing one quickly and placing it to the side and then starting on the second.
“Oh, don’t worry about little old me,” Kie remarks.
JJ glances at her and then reaches for a third glass that he hands to her.
Anna turns around right as Kie takes her first sip.
“Kiara!” she whisper-yells at her daughter.
Mike turns around to see what Kie is up to already. “Anna, let them have one glass,” he tells his wife.
Kie gives her best, most innocent smile to her parents.
“Only one, you hear me?” Anna says, sternly.
“Yes Mom,” Kie nods.
“Mike, Anna, lovely to see you,” a blonde woman comes sweeping in next to Kie’s parents, distracting them.
Kie takes the opportunity to turn to JJ. “How are you doing?”
JJ sucks down the rest of his second champagne and sets his glass down.
“These are like little shots of champagne. Do they have bigger glasses?” JJ asks, looking around for a bar.
“J,” Kie says, grabbing his arms and trying to get him to look at her. “We’re not getting wasted right now. I need us to keep our composure for a couple hours and then we can make a swift exit.”
“Right, right ok,” JJ agrees, giving his collar a tug at the neck.
Kie gives him a kiss on the cheek. She drinks her champagne slowly as they look around. There’s a lot of Kook couples and families milling about on the deck area, and the lower grass area has tables and a dance floor which only has a handful of people on it now.
“Kiara!” Anna waves over Kie.
Kie grabs JJ’s hand and they walk over to where her parents are chatting with a couple Kie vaguely recognizes.
“Kiara, you remember Mr. and Mrs. Howells,” Anna says, gesturing at the couple.
“Yes, nice to see you again,” Kie lies.
“You too. You look absolutely beautiful tonight,” Mrs. Howells compliments.
“Thanks,” Kie says with a fake smile. “And this is my boyfriend, JJ,” Kie introduces JJ.
“Nice to meet you,” Mrs. Howells nods in JJ’s direction.
JJ forces himself to smile and nod back. “You too.”
“Your parents were just telling me how you were considering NYU,” Mrs. Howells explains to Kie.
Kie keeps her fake smile plastered on her face. “Yes, maybe,” she nods.
“Well I was telling them how the McCoy’s boy just finished his freshman year there. Do you know Ryan?” Mrs. Howells asks.
“Not well, but I’ve met him before,” Kie says.
“Oh well, you should definitely get to know him better. He’s a finance major and quite handsome, to boot,” Mrs. Howells says with a wink.
Kie tries to hide her cringe. She should have seen this coming from a mile away and yet, it still takes her by surprise.
“Yes, we’ll have to connect with the McCoy’s about NYU,” Anna speaks for Kie and tries to bring the topic back to school. “Kiara is interested in the environmental science program they have there.”
Kie tightens her hold on JJ’s hand and tries to pull him in closer, but he stays where he is with his feet rooted to the ground. Kie sneaks a glance at him and his face is blank and unreadable.
“Sounds lovely,” Mrs. Howells says, her eyes settle on where Kie’s hand is in JJ’s and she looks displeased. “I’m sure Ryan would love to chat with Kiara, he was just saying the other day how he’s looking for a smart young lady to get serious about.”
Kie waves in the direction behind the Howells at no one in particular. “Excuse us, I see our friends are waiting for us on the dancefloor, where we said we’d meet them,” Kie lies, leading JJ away.
“What the fuck was that?” JJ asks as soon as they are out of ear shot.
“I know! It’s like people think they can breed humans like show dogs,” Kie grumbles.
“No, I meant, who did you see on the dance floor?” JJ asks, looking at the empty dance floor.
Kie gives JJ a puzzled look. “No one, I just wanted to get us out of that awful conversation. They were being so rude talking about setting me up with someone when I clearly introduced you as my boyfriend.”
“Oh,” JJ shrugs. “It’s fine, Kie.”
“It’s not fine!” Kie argues. “It’s beyond disrespectful. And I’m sorry you had to put up with that.”
“Don’t apologize for the behavior of Kooks; it’s not your fault,” JJ says.
Kie adjusts the strap on her dress. “Yeah, but I brought you here so I feel partially responsible.”
“Honestly, I’m sure we’ll hear more of it before the night is over. You think I didn’t already know that your parents’ friends will be whispering ‘how can they let their daughter date that Maybank boy’? I’ve heard it all before and I don’t care,” JJ says.
He picks up Kie’s hand and walks onto the dance floor. “Now let’s really give them something to talk about.” He twirls Kie and then dips her as he plants his lips firmly on hers.
Kie hears some clapping to her right and looks over to see Sarah and John B approaching the dance floor.
“Yes dude! Let’s get this party started,” John B cheers on Kie and JJ.
The four of them dance for a while as more people arrive for the evening and the dance floor fills up. Then they sneak off to an empty coat closet with a champagne bottle JJ swiped from behind the bar. At one point JJ and Kie get roped into a couple more conversations with her parents and their friends. The conversations aren’t too unpleasant, but Kie does notice how people’s eyes linger on JJ, riddled with judgement, when they hear his last name.
Sarah and Kie are sitting at one of the tables, eating some dessert, while the boys are on a hunt for more booze.
“I got the cutest pic of you and JJ earlier,” Sarah says, titling her phone to Kie to show her a photo of JJ dipping and kissing Kie on the dance floor. “Can I post it?” Sarah asks.
“Yeah,” Kie agrees. “It is cute.”
“I’ll send it to you, too,” Sarah says, as she clicks post to her Instagram stories.
Kie clicks into her Instagram to repost the photo and she sees that JJ has already posted a photo. He’s not super active on Instagram, but when he is, it’s usually to comment fire emojis on her pics or share goofy, embarrassing pictures of her on his feed. The time stamp shows that 20 minutes ago JJ had posted a candid photo of just Kie standing in her dress and smiling at something out of frame; she’s not sure when he clicked the photo. Kie feels her stomach flutter reading the sweet caption, “my girl” with a heart emoji. She double taps the photo as she feels a hand on her shoulder.
“All we could manage was more champagne,” JJ says, setting a glass on the table in front of her.
“That’ll do,” Kie says, raising the glass to cheers JJ’s.
“Oh look who we have here,” Rafe says, walking over to their table.
“Rafe,” Sarah acknowledges him, gritting her teeth into a fake smile.
“Hey sis,” Rafe says, with a smarmy grin.
“Can we help you?” Sarah asks.
“Rose wants a family picture to send to dad,” Rafe points to where Rose and Wheezie are standing on the grass.
Sarah’s dad is in prison. Sarah never visits Ward and she only goes home occasionally for Wheezie’s sake. She has no interest in seeing or talking to her brother or stepmother.
“Fine,” Sarah sighs with her eyes on Wheezie. “Be back in a minute,” she says with a kiss to John B’s cheek before walking away.
Rafe looks right at JJ, but addresses Kie. “Kie, I thought you hated litter. What are you doing here with that piece of trash?”
Kie feels anger boil up inside her, she tries to tamp it down. She sees JJ’s hands curl into fists and she steps in front of him. “Fuck off, Rafe,” she seethes.
Rafe leers at them as he walks away to where Sarah went.
Kie turns to face JJ. “Ignore him,” she says, putting her hands on both sides of his face, directing his attention from Rafe walking away behind her to her face.
“Yeah, ok. I am,” JJ nods, focusing on Kie’s eyes. His breathing slows from short angry breaths to match her slow and steady breath.
Kie leans forward and gently nips at JJ’s lips. His lips part and they kiss slowly, gently, and far too intimate for such a public place.
“Alright guys, we get it,” John B interrupts them.
JJ and Kie break apart but keep their faces close together, with their foreheads touching.
“Want to find somewhere more private?” JJ asks. Kie nods slowly with a coy smile, staring into his ocean blue eyes.
JJ takes her hand and leads her inside, leaving John B at the table by himself without so much as a glance in his direction.
“It’s cool, just pretend I’m not even here. I’ll be fine,” John B calls after them.
JJ and Kie find the same coat closet they drank champagne in earlier. JJ pushes Kie against the wall and furiously kisses her lips, her neck, her ear, her collar bone. Kie’s hands skate through JJ’s hair. JJ hikes up Kie’s dress and hooks his fingers in her underwear to pull them down in one tug. JJ’s fingers run along her fold as Kie gasps.
“You’re so wet for me baby,” JJ whispers.
In the next breath, she’s undoing his belt, his pants button and zipper. She pushes down his boxer briefs and his erection springs free. Kie lifts a leg and hooks it around JJ’s hip. He pushes inside her with a primal grunt.
They fuck hard and fast. JJ places a hand over Kie’s mouth to stifle her scream as she comes. He’s unloading into her in the next second and his hand moves from her mouth to a fist in his own that he bites down on to keep himself quiet.
Kie pulls her underwear back up and they straighten themselves out. She runs a hand through JJ’s hair to attempt to flatten it out. He tucks some of her flyaway hairs behind her ear.
JJ presses a quick kiss to Kie’s lips before they exit the closet. As they turn the corner they run into Kie’s parents. JJ immediately reaches up to straighten his tie.
“Kiara, there you are,” Anna says. “We were looking for you to introduce you to the Richard’s.”
“Sorry I missed them,” Kie says without an ounce of contrite in her voice.
Mike eyes JJ and Kie carefully.
“Alright well at least come sit with us for a bit before you leave,” Anna gestures to the tables on the patio.
“Ok,” Kie agrees, letting her mom lead them back outside.
As Kie sits down next to her mom, she sees her dad put his hand on JJ’s shoulder and say something to him but they are out of earshot. Kie watches as JJ nods and responds.
When JJ sits down next to Kie, she turns and asks “what did my dad say to you?”
JJ scoots his chair closer to Kie and puts his arm up on the back of her chair. “Just guy stuff.”
“What? You have secrets with my dad now?” Kie looks at JJ curiously.
JJ smiles at Kie. “So what if I do?”
“JJ, Kie,” John B says, walking over with Sarah to join their table. “Where have you two been?” he asks pointedly with his eyebrows raised.
“Went for a quick stroll around the property,” JJ lies.
“I bet that stroll was pleasurable,” John B replies with a smirk.
Kie rolls her eyes.
“Did you kids have fun tonight?” Anna asks JJ, Kie, John B, and Sarah.
“I know Kie and JJ definitely did,” John B answers quickly.
Anna smiles at Kie, not understanding John B’s innuendos.
“Yes Mom, I admit the night wasn’t all painful,” Kie professes.
“I’m glad,” Anna says. “Ya’ll looked beautiful tonight.”
The Pogues chat with Kie’s parents as the night winds down. JJ’s hand lifts off the back of Kie’s chair and he lightly runs the tips of his fingers back and forth across where her bare back is revealed by her dress. Kie leans back into his touch and places her hand on his leg.
Mike and Anna let JJ, Kie, John B, and Sarah take their car service back to the Chateau, while Mike calls a cab to take him and Anna home.
---
TUESDAY, JULY 19th 2022
John B, Pope, JJ, and Kiara are surfing while Sarah reads on the beach. They have a blanket laid out on the sand with a cooler full of post-surf beers and snacks waiting for them.
Kie rides a big wave and surfs in without paddling back out. She walks up the beach to Sarah.
Sarah sits up with her hand on her forehead to block the sun from her eyes. “How is it out there?”
“Awesome waves,” Kie comments. “I’m tired though.”
Kie drops her board next to their beach blanket as she hears someone call her name. She looks over to see a couple guys she knows from school walking over. Derek and Sean both live on the Cut and attend Kildare High with Kie and Sarah.
“Kie, you crushed those waves,” Derek says, holding his fist out.
Kie gives him a fist bump. “Have you been out there yet?” she asks.
“Yeah, we came in a while ago. The waves really knocked us around,” Sean admits. “But you seemed to be handling them perfectly.”
Kie feels weird thinking about them watching her out on the water.
Sarah cracks open a beer for herself. “Want one?” she offers to Derek and Sean.
“Nah, we’re good,” Derek declines.
“I’ll take one, though.” Kie holds out her hand. Sarah hands her the beer she just opened and gets a new one from the cooler for herself.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you out here,” Derek comments to Kie.
“Have you been looking for me?” Kie asks, partially joking. She doesn’t mean it to sound flirtatious but she’s afraid it might.
Derek flashes a smile at her. “Nah, not looking. But we’re out here most mornings and I would definitely notice if you were here in your bikini.”
Kie hopes they don’t see the blush rise to her cheeks as she takes a sip of her beer.
“I haven’t gotten out to surf as much as I want this summer. I’ve been busy. You know, picking up shifts at The Wreck-” Kie starts.
“Yeah, and hanging out with friends who don’t surf,” Sarah jumps in and points to herself. “And of course, you’re always spending time with JJ,” Sarah adds, looking pointedly at Kie.
Kie wants to laugh at how obvious Sarah’s dropping of JJ’s name is.
“Right, right. I thought that was Maybank out there,” Derek says, looking out at where the boys are in the water.
“He’s crushing those waves, too,” Sean compliments. “But don’t tell him I said that. He doesn’t need any more of an ego boost.”
Kie laughs. “Don’t worry, we won’t.”
“So, what are you girls up to tonight?” Sean asks.
Kie and Sarah look at each other. They have no plans and no excuses come to mind, so Kie just shrugs.
“No plans yet,” Sarah says.
“Because my boy Derek here is having a party at his place,” Sean says.
“Yeah, lowkey night. Just a couple kegs. Keeping the invites to close friends only. You girls should definitely swing through,” Derek says.
“Are we considered close friends?” Sarah asks playfully.
“Well, close friends and hot girls are invited,” Sean says with a smirk.
Sarah takes a drink of her beer. “Gotcha.”
“What about hot girls and their boyfriends?” Kie asks. “Because Sarah doesn’t go anywhere without John B,” Kie adds, jokingly. She purposefully drops John B’s name to get her back for mentioning JJ, as if Kie needed a reminder of her boyfriend.
Derek laughs. “Yeah, your boys are all welcome, too,” he gestures to John B, JJ, and Pope who are now walking up the beach with their boards.
“Sup?” Sean nods in their direction.
“Hey guys,” Derek acknowledges.
The boys all greet each other with fist bumps and masculine head nods. Kie sits down on the blanket next to Sarah. They all talk surf for a couple minutes before Sean and Derek say they need to head out.
“We were telling the girls to come through tonight. Derek’s having a little party at his place, if you guys are around,” Sean says as he takes a couple steps backward towards the parking lot and then turns to leave.
“Yo Kie, I better be seeing you around here more often,” Derek says with a wink before he turns to walk away.
“Hopefully we’ll see you guys later tonight!” Sean calls over his shoulder.
“Definitely!” John B calls back with a grin. Then he looks down and immediately drops his smile and mutters, “you definitely won’t,” well out of earshot of Derek and Sean.
“Did that douchebag just wink at you?” JJ asks Kie.
Sarah and Kie start laughing.
“What the fuck was that?” Pope asks, motioning towards the parking lot where Derek and Sean went.
“What was what? They were just talking to us,” Sarah says with an innocent shrug as she takes another sip of her beer.
“Talking? More like hitting on,” John B declares.
“Yeah, no. Derek just winked at Kie right in front of me. And they invited you to a party?!” JJ asks disgustedly.
“Yeah, better keep an eye on him. He told Kie she looks hot in a bikini,” Sarah says, purposefully trying to rile up JJ.
Kie narrows her eyes at Sarah. “He did not say that,” Kie protests.
“Might as well have,” Sarah counters.
“I knew he was a snake,” JJ proclaims.
“You’ve hated him ever since he told us he likes Kie,” Pope says to JJ.
Kie stops mid-sip of her beer. “Excuse me?”
“Oh yeah,” John B agrees. “Derek came up to us on the beach one day to ask us if he could ask you out. Something about bro code. Wanted to make sure one of us wasn’t banging you first,” he explains.
“When was this?!” Kie demands.
“Like two summers ago,” John B shrugs.
“Two summers ago?! Where was I?” Kie asks, appalled at this revelation.
“I dunno, probably in the water surfing,” John B shrugs again.
Kie looks around at the boys with wide eyes. “And none of you told me?”
“No. We didn’t want you going out with a tool,” JJ defends their actions.
Kie side-eyes JJ. “Well, he never did ask me out,” Kie admits.
Pope scoffs. “That’s because JJ threatened him.”
Kie’s mouth drops open. “Come again?”
“It wasn’t really a threat. More like a gentle warning,” JJ recounts.
“I can’t believe this!” Kie exclaims. “How many guys have wanted to ask me out that y'all have scared off?” she asks.
JJ stays silent, feigning innocence, but his eyes are darting around nervously.
“Oh, a lot,” Pope answers nonchalantly.
“What the fuck, you guys...” Kie complains.
“Shouldn’t you be thanking us?” John B asks.
Kie puts her head in her hands. “The audacity of you idiots.”
John B ignores her statement. “We prevented you from so many bad dates and now you’re in love with JJ, so... all’s well that ends well. You’re welcome,” John B says with a self-satisfied smile.
Sarah laughs at him. “That is so not the point,” she says.
“Sorry, Kie,” Pope says sheepishly.
“We were looking out for you,” JJ contends.
“Bullshit, you were looking out for yourself,” Kie argues. “Besides, it wasn’t your decision to make.”
“Alright fine… so we may have been a little unnecessarily harsh on some guys who expressed interest in you,” JJ admits.
“And?” Kie prompts, waving her hand in a circle to signal that he should continue.
“And… we should have left it up to you to decide whether or not to date the douchebags,” JJ says.
“Thank you,” Kie accepts, with a curt nod.
“But you have horrible taste in guys so I still think we did you a favor,” JJ mumbles quickly because he just doesn’t seem to be able to help himself.
“I have horrible taste in guys?” Kie questions. “Look who’s talking.”
“Present company excluded,” JJ states arrogantly.
Kie rolls her eyes and takes a gulp of her beer. This conversation is grating on her.
“Remember when you went out with Will? He was an asshole. And then there was that blonde Touron freshman year- what was his name? Danny! What a jerk,” JJ rehashes.
“Nothing was wrong with either of them,” Kie contends.
“Oh yeah? Then why aren’t you still dating them?” JJ asks triumphantly as if he has a good point.
“You’re a moron,” Kie declares, but she’s smiling.
They all laugh as JJ continues to name guys Kie had short lived flirtations, dates, or hookups with and proceeds to point out imaginary flaws in each one. The list isn’t that long but Kie does note that JJ remembers every one of them. She had been so naive, she thinks. She had no idea that he cared at the time.